CHILLY winds, rain and fear of flooding may have kept some people from last Friday's Otley Victorian Fayre, but organisers are still declaring it a great success.

Staff at shops and businesses in the town dusted down their best bonnets and top hats, and families crowded into Otley market place in the evening for street entertainment and a charity market.

Fayre secretary Richard Katkowski said he thought the fayre had gone very well, although the weather kept people away during the day.

He said: "We were a little disappointed with the money raised, but we did what we could. I think the bad weather had a lot to do with it."

The fayre has raised £3,000 so far, which will be presented to beneficiaries St Gemma's Hospice, Leeds, and the West Yorkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, Rawdon.

However, some claim a mistaken radio report of flooding in the town may have also kept people at home.

Landlord of The Bowling Green, Trevor Wallis, said: "A couple of customers said they had heard it on the radio. We had an extremely busy night, but there was a lot of people put off coming."

There were more entries in this year's shop window and costume competitions. Westgate clothing shop Carole Fashions won the commercial class best costume award, and joint first in the commercial shop window class, along with Boroughgate's Wilkinson the Butcher. Second prize in the commercial costume class was Boroughgate gift shop Clutterbug.

In the non commercial classes, Help the Aged won the shop window award, and came second in the best costume class. Oxfam was second in the window competition and won the costume award.